Song for a Singer

John Shaw Neilson 1872 (Penola, South Australia) – 1942 (Melbourne, Victoria)



When you go underground with all your airs,
Your kindly lies and your ridiculous prayers,
You shall not ever fear to face again
The strong man's rage, the woman wild with pain
Nor song nor sigh will beat upon your brain.

The world will mourn you neither less nor more
Than all the pawns who played the game before;
The lover-lad will kiss his love anew
The water-birds will have their dance to do,
And the rude Spring will gallop over you.

The men who make will match the men who mar,
The eye unsatisfied will seek a star;
Your visitor the worm will speak you fair,
The bride will tremble and the child will stare,
And the red Summer will ride everywhere.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

37 sec read
80

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAXBB CCDDD EEFFF
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 649
Words 125
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 5, 5, 5

John Shaw Neilson

John Shaw Neilson was an Australian poet. Slightly built, for most of his life he worked as a labourer, fruit-picking, clearing scrub, navvying and working in quarries, and, after 1928, working as a messenger with the Country Roads Board in Melbourne. he died when he was 70 years old. more…

All John Shaw Neilson poems | John Shaw Neilson Books

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